The Roundtable Series w/ Helena Jaramillo, Tito Obaisi, and Lilly Chen Ep 2 | Founding Philly

This episode is sponsored by JP Morgan. 

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In this episode of Founding Philly, we bring you the second installment of our Roundtable Series—recorded live at the Fitler Club—where we gather Philadelphia's top founders and ecosystem builders for a candid conversation about what it’s really like to build in Philly.

Joining me for this roundtable are Helena Jaramillo, co-founder of PamPam, a no-code map-building platform; Tito Obaisi, from Comcast Lift Labs, which helps bridge the gap between startups and the corporate world; and Lilly Chen, founder of FSH Technologies, a civic tech company bringing modern software to local government.

Throughout the discussion, we explore how early-stage startups are navigating the rise of AI—not just as a feature, but as a force multiplier. We dig into real use cases, like using tools such as Cursor and Windsurf to supercharge coding, accelerate internal operations, and even unlock entirely new markets.

Lilly paints a powerful picture of how AI is lowering barriers for small businesses and government agencies, turning previously unaffordable custom software needs into achievable solutions. Helena shares how AI helped Pampa make technical tools more accessible to non-technical users, and Tito provides an inside look at how Comcast is leveraging startup partnerships to innovate at scale.

We also dive into the funding landscape and what it means to grow sustainably in today’s environment. From “seedstrapping” and capital efficiency to building companies that are leaner, faster, and more resilient—our guests reflect on what scaling looks like in a world where AI changes the cost of experimentation and the value of time.

Finally, we turn the conversation local, sharing honest perspectives on what makes the Philly startup scene unique. From investor independence to community-driven ambition, the group reflects on how Philadelphia can define its startup identity—and why now is the time to build here.

Tune in to this episode to hear this roundtable conversation on AI, capital efficiency, civic innovation, and the future of the Philly startup ecosystem.